The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-06-16
STRANGE COINCIDENCE
Explained to the Satisfaction Of
Everybody.
Ioriginal.]

shake off that graveyard look o. your'n.
Take a drink and wash down your
troubles and you'll be all right. You
amt used to this thing. We kin see
that easy 'nuff. Your talk gives you
away. Now don't be down-hearted.
I've taken a liken' to you, even if you
do wear q billed shirt. The boys don't
60 much ON airs, but you kin stake
your last ounce o. gold dust agin the
earth that they're all square,
The speaker was an elongated indi-
vidual who labored under the sobriquet
of Big Bill. and who was evidently a
leader in his set, judging from his
authoritative tone and manner. It
was a motley crowd and the stranger
addressed looked very much out of
place among these horny-handed and
ro~ughlooking miners.
The opening scene of this tale was at
the largest hotel and saloon in one of
the mining towns of the West, which
for convenience sake we win call
0reton. and the gilded palace wherein
the above conversation took place had
been dubbed the handsome and sug-
gestive name of +Nosepaint." That
it was true to its singular cognomen
was plainly evident from the number
of colored noses discernible in the
group.
The young man to whom this speech
was delivered was a handsome young
fellow of perhaps six-and-twenty. His
name was Gerald Chambers, and his
appearance was entirely at variance
with his surroundings. His story was
not altogether an uncommon one, and
was like many another which now and
then m under our observation. Its
explanation can be found in a few
wordsEhe had loved and lost.
Harriet Lane, the lady of his choice,
was q beautiful young woman, and the
only child of John Lane, Esq, a retired
banker. She loved Gerald with all her
heart, but the old adage, True love
never runs smoothly" was quite fit
ting in this case. Her father, for va
rious reasons, disliked Chambers, and
had warned her that his attentions
must be discontinued. Gerald was not
wealthy, and this may have had some
weight with Mr.. Lane, who was a man of
biased views on most all subjects. He
was quick-tempered, and once his mind
made up, settled matters. Gerald and
Harriet, therefore, found great diff
Guilty in carrying on their love affairs,
and clandestine meetings were re-
sorted to, though he tried every honor
able means of convincing Mr.. Lane OF
his error in keeping them apart. So
matters went on for some time.
By and by Mr.. Lane began to sus-
pect that the two met secretly and
without his sanction, and he deter
mined to put an end to all further pro-
ceedings by quietly removing to some
distant city. This plan he at one put
into execution, and SO well did he
guard against communication between
them, that for the time being they were
lost to each Other.
Gerald Chambers was not a man to
be daunted. He sought high and low
for them, but SO well had their steps
been covered, he was finally obliged
to abandon his search. He drifted
hither and thither aimlessly and almost
Respondent, spending his money Law
ishly and recklessly, until he was
awakened from his reyery-like state by
cruel fate, which swept from him his
little balance. Once aroused, he
was himself again and determined
to seek fortune and quietude in
the mining towns of the Far West.
and so it is we find him at the s.Nose-
paint in Oreton. Having given the
reader an idea of the state of affairs,
we will now proceed with the thread Of
our narrative.
Come. young Teller, make yourself
sociable, for if there's one thing more
o another we do pride ourselves on
in Oreton. it's bein' sociable," contin-
ned Big Bill.